Airtel Hits 60 Million Subscribers In Africa

Bharti Airtel has hit the 60 million user mark in Africa, the company announces, promising better penetration for rural subscribers.

The telecoms operator on Wednesday revealed that it has amassed 10 million new subscribers in less than 12 months, pushing its 2011 50 million user base over the 60 million mark.

“Since launching the Airtel brand in Africa in 2010, Airtel has been on a steady growth path. The ability to communicate with each other is no longer a privilege on this continent, but a necessity,” said Airtel Africa’s Chief Marketing Officer Andre Beyers in a press statement.

In this vein, the company has expanded operations across 17 countries in Africa since having launched its African unit in 2010, in a bid to dominate the African telecoms market.

With such solid growth patterns, Airtel confirmed that it will be pushing for further expansion on the continent, with a focus on providing better rural penetration, innovation and improved customer care. The company has previously indicated that it hopes to reach 100 million users in Africa by the second quarter of 2013.

Since its entry onto the African market, the telecoms operator has rolled out 3.75G services across 11 countries, and has also introduced Airtel Money to 15 African markets.

Bharti Airtel entered Africa in 2010, buying Kuwaiti-run operator Zain in a $9 billion deal. Zain having operations in 14 countries across Africa, Airtel shot to the position of fifth largest telecoms provider in the world.

Last week, research group Wireless Intelligence released a report placing Airtel in fourth rank world-wide confirming that the company has significantly grown its global market position since 2010.